19. GET LUCKY

I thought I would paint or draw with the free time I had. Ironically, I did more of that when I had a 9-to-5 job. I also read more (during my commute) and picked up new skills, like coding. This was prompted by two things: the reality that many of the tasks I enjoyed could be replaced by a computer, and my desire to spend more time doing what I love.

When I was given the chance to do inventory analysis, I took it, not realizing it would help me in ways I couldn’t have predicted. According to ChatGPT, the zodiac sign Pisces “excels in seeing the bigger picture and understanding complex systems in a holistic way.” During this phase, I grew to love Excel. I discovered that I’m able to make sense of data, find patterns, and forecast.

This experience prepared me for my next job, which was solely focused on the books that sell well. It wasn’t up to me to determine the fate of a book, but I paid close attention to the ones that had the “it” factor and saw what set them apart.

A listen to Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” reminded me to reflect on the question, “What is this I’m feeling?” and to consider what the planets and stars have to do with realizing that “we’ve come too far to give up who we are.”